L'integrazione europea: un'analisi empirica (European Integration: an empirical analysis)

This mainly empirical work aims to further investigate the distinction between centre and periphery Europe. In the first part the author calculates some indices that shed light on the causes of the distinction shown by Bayoumi and Eichengreen and shows the evolution of these indices over time, trying to infer whether there is a trend towards integration or disintegration. Then, a more detailed analysis of the structure of trade between France, Italy and Germany is proposed. In the second part some indices of trade integration are calculated and two traditional tools from the empirical literature on international trade are used: the intensity indices and gravitation model. JEL: F15